Another heavy sigh escapes my lips as I return the bag of beef jerky to the fridge and go back to pouring myself a drink. Ipull out my cell phone, reading Dominic's text again, in which he promised to visit next weekend.
In the meantime, I can't ignore what my inner wolf has been pushing me toward—making amends for the way I behaved in the past. I'll just do what I need to do to show Arianna that I've changed, and that Portland is still a safe home for her and her son. That's all that matters—her safety and her son's.
It doesn't matter that I still find her irresistible. That's not the reason for doing better. My personal feelings have never mattered when it comes to doing what's right for her and for everyone in this pack. That's the only way everyone stays safe.
Chapter 9 - Arianna
The smoky aroma of bacon comes drifting from the crack under my door, and it prompts me to wake up and slide out of bed, instantly crossing the hall to the room Noah is sleeping in, my maternal instincts kicking in, as if I need to protect him from Tyler's kindness.
What happened last night shouldn't have happened. What if the two of them get too close, and Tyler discovers that Noah is actually his son?
It'll ruin everything I've worked hard for, and I might be forced to leave Portland again, and right now, it's the only place safe enough for us where I can figure out why I've been dreaming about James following me, chasing me, hunting me down.
It happened again last night. I always suspected that he was a creep, but was it enough to evoke this kind of uneasiness in me?
Shivering into myself, I pad into the room Noah is asleep in, waking him up gently with a soft kiss on his forehead. He bats his eyelids as his eyes go from dark to a softer shade of hazel, and his lips lift in a smile.
I frown as I watch him turn from dark to light, as if tapping into his wolf in his sleep and waking up to his human self. I've never seen his eyes do that before, and I suspect it's because we're in Portland with Moonshine, and he's near his father.
Knowing that I won't be able to keep the truth a secret for too long, I'll have to start digging deeper into my dreams and why James is haunting me. I thought that coming here would stop the dreams if I felt safer, but they've only become worse.
I clear my throat as I take a seat beside Noah, my worries momentarily fading as I stroke his soft, plump cheek. Just as I'm about to suggest that we take a morning stroll through the garden like we did yesterday, a gentle rap on the door grabs Noah's attention, his eyes filling with wonder.
“Good morning,” Tyler greets, and my heart sinks as it's struck by the tenderness in his tone. I just can't seem to forget that he'd been mean in the past, his bitter rejection breaking my heart so badly that I swore I'd never trust another man in my life.
The only time he'd been mean again since I returned was when I slapped him the other night, a flicker of cruel, brutal jealousy flickering in his eyes. At least, that's what I thought it was, and he’d sounded derisive when he spoke about me being with someone else.
Like he was jealous.
Like he couldn't bear the thought of me being with another man.
It's what I suspect, because as his fated mate, I'd never stand the thought of him being with another she-wolf. It would drive me insane.
But even then, he's the alpha, and he had every right to punish me for assaulting him, but he did nothing.
Little does he know that he couldn't be farther from the truth, believing that I'd carried another man's child. Perhaps a little bout of jealousy is a way for me to gauge if he has suspicions, and so far, there are none.
“Would you two like to join me for breakfast?” he asks sweetly, prompting me to turn with a skeptical eye. But even after inspecting his gorgeous face, I find no malice or ill intent, leading me to wonder if he's changed.
He's been nothing but nice to us, and it confuses me. Where I'm supposed to hate him for what he did in the past, I'm left questioning if a destined alpha can change.
A lothaschanged since the last time I was here, like Tyler's new home and the budding flowers in his garden, but a lot hasn't changed, either. The pack still seems to operate under the old rulings of trading amongst each other instead of working in the human towns, only visiting there to collect supplies and resources to keep Portland running smoothly and independently.
It's backward, much like the other rulings of the pack that dictate an alpha must have a mate of high rank in the pack hierarchy. I always suspected that was the reason Tyler rejected me and dismissed my claim that we were true mates.
But it doesn't excuse what he did.
That's why only Noah perks up, quickly scrambling to his feet off the bed and eagerly nodding as he accepts Tyler's offer. I sigh defeatedly, knowing that I can't keep Noah away from a male figure who's only proving to be kind as each day goes by.
Gulping hard and swallowing down the truth that only I know, I stand up just as Noah grabs my hand and tugs eagerly.
“Breakfast, Mama!” he chirps, his eyes sparkling like honey pots with the promise of filling his ever-growing appetite. I can't stop the smile from spreading across my face, and nod.
“Of course, Noah-kins,” I giggle as I let Noah lead me to the door. “Let's have breakfast.”
We pass Tyler on our way out of the bedroom, and he's only left a small space for us to pass when he takes a step back. I hold my breath, not wanting to catch his distinct scent that might make this harder for me. I clear my throat on the breathI'm holding, showing my indifference by not meeting his eyes, my mind racing with the thought that keeping this secret is going to be impossible as time goes by.
Tyler is an alpha, and Noah is an alpha's son. Eventually, both of them willfeelthe bond.
